Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1887-01-06
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ELDERS
Read at the Annual Meeting Of the
Christian Church. Dec. 29th, By
P.W. Harding.

Nv. Harding.
1t seems to me, brethren, that most
any member Of the Board Of Elders
would have been better suited and
better prepared to make this report
than myself.
An you all know, I have been alb
sent all summer, consequently my
opportunities for knowing of the
spiritual condition of the church has
not been SO great as either of the
other brethren, therefore, I shall
have to depend entirely for what I
shall have to say on opinions that I
have formed from conversing with
many Of the good brethren since nv
return.
! am pleased to say, however, that
the brotherhood, SO far as have
had che pleasure Of meeting and talk
ing with them, seem to be rich in
faith and abounding in good works.
l find that the increase in member
ship has not been large, neither has
the decrease, leaving the total men,
bership nearly what it was a year
age.
This, however, 10 no cause why We
should feel discouraged, for while IL
is grand thing to reap large har-
vest Of precious souls for Christ, it Is
also grand thing to nurture and
cause to grow in all of the Christian
graces those who have already
been gathered into the fold.
Hence it does not necessarily fol-
low that because we have not had
large increase in membership that We
have been retrograding, or even that
we have not been progressing. or
course, brethren, you are all aware
that We have not been entirely void
Of trouble during the past year, and
this, together with the fact that we
have had no protracted meetings, ac-
counts for our not having had .
larger increase of members. / feel
grati6ed at the thought that inso-
far rs have been able TO learn,
everything is now at peace, and
every brother and sister seems to be
determined to live closer to Christ.
We have secured the services OF Bro.
J. z. Taylor,of Kansas City, to assist
In protracted meeting, which we
hope to see in progress in few
weeks, and for which we must all
prepare. You must pardon me, breth-
rem, il I critlcise little, but / some
times think that we are not sociablc
enough. I know that in the hurry
and worry of business life we are apt
to forget, but we should avoid this as
much az possible. We should love
to linger together and greet each
other With q hso.herly greeting, for
real genuine brotherly show do you
do and cordial grasp Of Chris
tisn hand goes long ways sometimes
in cheering up low spirited brother
or sister, who though poor perhaps
insofar as this worlds goods is con-
cerned, d,yet is as rich in the forgiveness
of their sins and the promise Of
eternal life rs the wealthiest man that
lives.
Brother Higbee has told us on sew
eral former occasions, that there are
some 40 odd persons living in town
who are or have been members, but
have not yet taken membership with
this congregation; though he has
urged them to unite with us. Sup
pose, brethren, that we should all
turn out to preaching, how long do you
think it would be before we would
gather those all in; yea, many more
than they. How many of our dear
young friends, children Of our dear
brethren, are they whom we would
all he delighted TO see in the church.
Oh, brethren, let US all determine TO
do more for our Master the coming
year than we have ever done before.
Don't be ashamed Of your religion ;
don't be afraid 70 speak Of 1t on the
, street or in your place OF business.
By being earnestly interested our
selves, others will become interested
, and much good will be done in the
Masters cause.
, I feel, brethren, that IL we were
1 more industrious we would become
more spiritually minded; the more
person labors in any good cause
the more they become interested in
r that cause. Hence, say, We should
always be found in the harness, work
d ing for the church, talking for the
church and praying for the church.
I tell you the working church is
q the successful church. Show me a
' church where oil Of its members are
I working members, church system
attic in all OF its business affairs, and
II will show you church that is &C
> conaplishing much for Christ's king
J dom.
Don't understand me TO say or io-
sinuate that we are lazy by any means,
for we have many good working
Z. members; but spprehend that none
0 Of Us will ever get TO that degree OF
. perfection but what we can get bet
, ter, or even do 80 much for Christ
: bat what we can try and do more.
Therefore, let rs all, each and ev-
ery one Of US, both brethren and sis
ters, begin the year 1887 with . firm
resolve and q solemn vow to our
: Heavenly Father 10 live more for Him
: and less for the world, and thus pre-
pare ourselves for the more perfect